The organizers of the “Million Muslim March” on 9/11, now called the Million American March Against Fear, apparently didn’t only falsely announce the participation of Rep. Cleaver (D-MO). They also claimed they received an endorsement from the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR), but CAIR denies any involvement in the event.
Yet, CAIR’s denial is a far cry from a condemnation of the radical rally.
On August 12, the Million American March Against Fear (MAMAF) announced that CAIR’s Los Angeles chapter and its director, Hussam Ayloush, had endorsed the event saying:
“Hussam Aylooush the Executive Director of CAIR (Council on American Islamic Relation, the Los Angeles Chapter) is 100% on board with AMPAC’s Million American March Against Fear on 9/11/13. On August 12th Hussam Ayloush joins with AMPAC and other sponsored organizations and he is pledged to speak at the Marching rally on 9/11/13 at the National Mall.
Hussam Ayloush invites the CAIR National to be joining with him for supporting the Million Muslim March which is now as MAMAF…"
CAIR later issued a press release on September 3 stating:
“CAIR has not agreed to endorse or co-sponsor the ‘Million American March Against Fear’ or the ‘Million Muslim March’ on the anniversary of the 9/11 terror attacks. Any assertions to the contrary are false.”
The Clarion Project asked MD Rabbi Alam, the leader of the MAMAF, inquiring about what happened.
“Only the CAIR-Los Angeles chapter Executive Director endorsed us, however he later on backed out,” Alam said.
“They really didn’t give any specific reason but from their conversation this is what I understood: still many, many Muslims and many organizations are under media fire, and they are simply trying to stay away from any real challenges like us as AMPAC taking and going through.”
Ayloush, however, told the Clarion Project that Alam is lying, saying, “I actually still have little clue what that event is all about.”
“My name and that of CAIR were listed without authorization from myself or from anyone at CAIR. I am very confident that none of the organizers can claim otherwise, because they themselves apologized for adding my name and that of CAIR by mistake and without our authorization; and they already apologized to us for it,” Ayloush added.
No matter who is lying, CAIR’s statement on the radical event is far from the condemnation that is necessary. It doesn’t even say that CAIR is against it; only that CAIR is not a part of it. Perhaps it’s because the MAMAF event echoes CAIR’s line that there is a war on Islam and Muslims.
Compare CAIR’s statement to what American Islamic Forum for Democracy had to say about it:
“We stand against terror, against anti-Semitism, and against the toxic ideology you have claimed will bring a ‘million Muslims’ to the capital of this great nation. We take heart, knowing this will not happen – and we remain steadfast in our condemnation of your event, your ideology, and your goals,” it reads in part.
Every Muslim-American should compare those two statements and ask themselves which group is better to lead their community.
